Critical Thinking Critical Thinking Concepts and ToolsConcepts and Tools

(Foundation for Critical (Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2001)Thinking, 2001)

Why Critical Thinking?:Why Critical Thinking?:The ProblemThe Problem

Everyone thinks -- it’s our nature to do so.Everyone thinks -- it’s our nature to do so. However, much of our thinking, left to However, much of our thinking, left to

itself, is biased, distorted, partial, itself, is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed or down-right prejudiced.uninformed or down-right prejudiced.

Yet, the quality of our life and that or what Yet, the quality of our life and that or what we produce, make or build depends we produce, make or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought.precisely on the quality of our thought.

Shoddy thinking is costly, both in money Shoddy thinking is costly, both in money and in quality of life.and in quality of life.

Excellence in thought, however, must be Excellence in thought, however, must be systematically cultivated.systematically cultivated.

Why Critical Thinking?:Why Critical Thinking?:A DefinitionA Definition

It is that mode of thinking – about It is that mode of thinking – about any subject, content, or problem – any subject, content, or problem – in which the thinker improves the in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by quality of his or her thinking by skillfully taking charge of the skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking structures inherent in thinking and imposing intellectual and imposing intellectual standards upon themstandards upon them

What is the result?What is the result?

A well cultivated critical thinker:A well cultivated critical thinker:– raises vital questions and problems, formulating raises vital questions and problems, formulating

them clearly and precisely;them clearly and precisely;– gathers and assesses relevant information, using gathers and assesses relevant information, using

abstract ideas to interpret it effectively;abstract ideas to interpret it effectively;– Comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, Comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions,

testing them against relevant criteria and standards;testing them against relevant criteria and standards;– Thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of Thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of

thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences; and, consequences; and,

– Communicates effectively with others in figuring out Communicates effectively with others in figuring out solution s to complex problems.solution s to complex problems.

What is Critical What is Critical Thinking?Thinking?Critical Thinking is, in essence:Critical Thinking is, in essence: Self-directed thinkingSelf-directed thinking Self-disciplined thinkingSelf-disciplined thinking Self-monitored thinkingSelf-monitored thinking Self-corrective thinkingSelf-corrective thinking It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of

excellence and mindful command of their useexcellence and mindful command of their use It entails effective communication and It entails effective communication and

problem-solving abilities and a commitment to problem-solving abilities and a commitment to overcome our native egocentrism and overcome our native egocentrism and sociocentrism.sociocentrism.

Questions Using the Questions Using the Elements of ThoughtElements of ThoughtPurposePurpose What am I trying to accomplish?What am I trying to accomplish? What is my central aim? My purpose?What is my central aim? My purpose?InformationInformation What information am I using in coming to that What information am I using in coming to that

conclusion?conclusion? What experience have I had to support this claim?What experience have I had to support this claim? What information do I need to settle the question?What information do I need to settle the question?Inferences/ConclusionsInferences/Conclusions How did I reach this conclusion?How did I reach this conclusion? Is there another way to interpret the information?Is there another way to interpret the information?ConceptsConcepts What is the main idea here?What is the main idea here? Could I explain this idea?Could I explain this idea?

Questions Using the Questions Using the ElementsElementsof Thought (continued)of Thought (continued)AssumptionsAssumptions What am I taking for granted?What am I taking for granted? What assumption has led me to that conclusion?What assumption has led me to that conclusion?Implications/ConsequencesImplications/Consequences If someone accepted my position, what would be the If someone accepted my position, what would be the

implications?implications? What am I implying?What am I implying?Points of ViewPoints of View From what point of view am I looking at this issue?From what point of view am I looking at this issue? Is there another point of view I should consider?Is there another point of view I should consider?QuestionsQuestions What question am I raising?What question am I raising? What question am I addressing?What question am I addressing?

Universal Intellectual Universal Intellectual StandardsStandards

Clarity:Clarity: Could you express your point in another way? Could you express your point in another way? Could you elaborate? Could you elaborate? Could you provide an illustration or an example?Could you provide an illustration or an example?Accuracy:Accuracy: Is that really true? Is that really true? How could we check that? How could we check that? How could we find out if that is true?How could we find out if that is true?Precision:Precision: Could you give me more details? Could you give me more details? Could you be more specific?Could you be more specific?Relevance:Relevance: How is that connected to the question? How is that connected to the question? How does that bear on the issue?How does that bear on the issue?Depth:Depth: How does your answer address the complexities in the question?How does your answer address the complexities in the question? How are you taking into account the problems in the question? How are you taking into account the problems in the question? Is that dealing with the most significant factors?Is that dealing with the most significant factors?

Universal Intellectual Universal Intellectual Standards (continued)Standards (continued)

Breadth:Breadth: Do we need to consider another point of view? Do we need to consider another point of view? Is there another way to look at this question? Is there another way to look at this question? What would this look like from the point of view of ______?What would this look like from the point of view of ______?Logic:Logic: Does this really make sense? Does this really make sense? Does that follow from what you said? Does that follow from what you said? How does that follow?How does that follow?Significance:Significance: Is this the most important problem to consider? Is this the most important problem to consider? Is this the central idea to focus on? Is this the central idea to focus on? Which of these facts are most important?Which of these facts are most important?Fairness:Fairness: Do I have any vested interest in this issue? Do I have any vested interest in this issue? Am I sympathetically representing the viewpoints of others?Am I sympathetically representing the viewpoints of others?